Filing equipment



Aug. 12,1941. E, KERN 2,252,402

FILING EQUIPMENT Original Filed Deo. 31, 1958 @MWh/M y gdorngy. 1`

Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A'co Products; Inc., Long Island City; N. Y., a corporation of New York riginal application December 31, `12938, Serial No. 248,693. Divided and this application October 18, 1939, Serial N0. 299,950 v 6 claims. (ci. 4.5-2)

This application is a divisionof my oopending application serieu No. 248,6`9an1ed December 31,

1,867,158 and 1,867,159, consist of alingc'abinet or open rack provided with removable filing units from which the drawings, maps or the like are suspended. The present invention embodies improvements in the latter type of lin'g equipment.

It is therefore, an object ofthe invention to provide filing requipment with simple, efficient and inexpensive ling units to facilitate suspension or vertical filing.A

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Another object is to provide` a vertical ling unit with hanger arms, constructed andarranged to readily receive slidable suspension members.

Another object is to provide inexpensive slidable sheet suspension members embodying means to retain them in place onhanger 921711.15.

The foregoing and such other objects ofthe invention as will appear hereinafter, Iwill be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification, in which referencewill be made to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a cabinet having one embodiment of the improved iling unit mounted therein.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryhorizcntal sectional View of the cabinet shown `in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view similar to' Fig. 1, showing another form of filing unit.

Fig. 4 is `a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 3, showing another modification.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig, 6 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. rI is a vertical sectional View, similar to Fig. 4, showing another form of suspension unit.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View showing a modified form of a tubular hanger arm mounting.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary View, similar to Fig. 8, showing another form of hanger arm and mounting. l

VThroughout the description like numerals identify corresponding parts in the drawing.

The improved filing units are shown mounted within a cabinet I I. Suitable filing unit supports I2 and I3 extend transversely of said cabinet and preferablyare secured at their ends at a fixed height, but, if desired, they may be mounted in said cabinet for vertical adjustment. The horizontal supports I2 and I3 afford a mounting for the novelly constructed filing units, each of which comprises ahanger arm I4 and a suspensionmember I5, slidable thereon, to which the file contents, such as sheets I6, are secured.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 inclusive, the arm I4 is turned down as at II and extends through an elongated hole I8 in the horizontal flange of the rearsupport I2, thereby providing a loosely fitted pivotal mounting enabling the arm to tilt downwardly sufficiently to dispose its free 'forward end `,below the bottom edge of the front support I 3. The degree of tilting is limited in this instance by the vertical wall of the rear support I2, as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. l. While the arm I4 is in its tilted or forwardly 4inclined position, the suspension member I5 can be freely slid onto or withdrawn from the end of thearm.

,Each lsuspension member I5 preferably is formed from avstiff sheet such as metal, heavy cardboard, fabric composition or the like, folded longitudinally to a substantially I J-shape to provide spaced apart side walls, preferably of uniform depth.` Said walls preferably are apertured to readily receive the prongs of suitable fasteners I5 provided to securely clamp or bind sheets I6 between said walls. lObviously, other types of detachable fasteners may be used but if the files aremade for permanent ling, rivets, staples `or other fastening means may be employede It should be notedthat the upperedges of sheets IS are spaced below the rolled edge of the U-shaped member I5 so that a space is maintained along said edge to freely admit the hanger arm I4,

After a suspension member I5 has beenv slipped over the downwardly tilted arm I4, an upstanding hook 2| (Fig. 1) carried on the forward end of the slidable member I5, is engaged over the edge of a hole 22 in the front support I3 tohold the assembled filing unit horizontally. A like hook may be provided at each end of the suspension member to make said member reversible. While the hook is in engagement with the front support, the filing unit cannot be swung about its pivot. To remove the suspension member, the hook 2| is disengaged from the front support and the arm is permitted to tilt downwardly, whereby the member l can be freely slid off.

Filing of the various suspension members is facilitated by the suitable tab receptacles 23 provided on each member and on fthe front support, as at 24, to receive index tabs. Instant return of -a suspension member onto its hanger arm is facilitated by the downward tilting of said arm which aids its being located and positions it to readily receive the member. Accordingly, any suspension member withdrawn is readily returned to its proper place in the ling cabinet.

The structure illustrated in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1. Here the front support |3a has a hook 22a engaged by a ring or eyelet 2 la carried in the forward end of the suspension member |5a. 'Ihe ring or eyelet 2|a serves as a handle to facilitate sliding of the member |5a. 'Ihe member can be made reversiblerby providing a ring or eyelet at each of its ends.

In the device shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, a rigid mounting is provided for the removable hanger arms |411. In this embodiment, the hanger arms are tubular and each has a vertical reinforcing rib 25 formed thereon which terminates at its rear end in oppositely disposed anges 26. The rear support |2b preierably is substantially U-shaped in cross section and is formed with one wall slotted at intervals to receive the rear ends of the ribs 25. As shown, the flanges 2B are snugly embraced in the U-shaped support to retain the hanger arms substantially horizontally. Obviously, fthe support |217' could be formed of two closely spaced apart bars. As best illustrated in Fig. 6,

the tubular arm MU is slotted longitudinallyl along its bottom to telescopically receive fthe rolled edge 21 of a singled walled suspension member |5b.

The bottom wall of the tubular hanger arm |40 shown in Fig. 7 also is slotted to receive a suspension member |5c and its rear portion |'|c is turned downwardly to provide a rigid pivotal mounting in the rear support |2. The free forward end of the hanger arm is supported by a cable 28 secured, at one end, preferably to the rear wall of the cabinet In the device illustrated in Fig. 8, the tubular hanger arm |4d also is formed with a slot and is apertured at 29, adjacent its rear end, to re-v ceive a supporting lug 3| preferably struck out from the rear support |2d.

The hanger arm |4e shown in Fig. 9 has an oiset hook-like end portion 32 which ts over the upper one of two rear supports |2e. 'Ihe lowerY end of the hook-like portion 32 cO-acts with the lower support to retain the arm substantially horizontally.

The filing equipment described provides a simple, inexpensive, compact and convenient ling system. It may be employed for storage of any number of sheets or the like. The filing units may include any of the various suspension members illustrated, associated with any of the various types of hanger arms and supporting means applicable to such use.

I claim:

1. In a ling device, a ling unit comprising, in combination, a support, an arm mounted for pivotal movement on said support, a suspension member slidably Isupported on said arm haying means adapted :to secure sheets or the like thereto, a second support, and means on one end of the member to engage said second support.

2. In a ling device, in combination, a support, an arm movably mounted at one end to said support arranged to tilt downwardly, means v to limit the tilting, a sheetv suspension member telescoped on said arm, a second support, and means on said second support to co-act with means on said member to retain the arm substantially horizontally.

3. In a filing device, in combination, a support, an arm movably mounted at one end to said support arranged to tilt downwardly, means to limit the tilting, said arm being mounted for pivotal movement through a substantially horizontal plane, asheet suspension member telescoped on said arm, a second support, and means on said second support to co-act with means on said member to retain the arm substantially horizontally and prevent pivotal movement thereof.

4. In a ling device, in combination, a support, an arm loosely mounted at one end on said support for tilting downwardly, means to limit the tilting, a sheet suspension member telescopically mounted on said arm, a second support, and means on said member to co-act with said second support to retain the arm and member substantially horizontally.

5. In a filing device, in combination, a support, an arm mounted at one end to said support for tilting downwardly, means to limit the tilting, a sheet suspension member telescopically mounted on said arm, a second support, and means on said suspension member to co-act with said second support to prevent displacement of said member.

6. In a filing device, in combination, a support, an arm mounted at one end to said support for pivotal movement through a substantially horizontal plane and downward tilting, means to limit the tilting, `a sheet suspension member telescopically mounted on said arm, said member being slidable over the free end of said arm, a second support, and means on said suspension member to co-act with said second support to prevent pivotal movement and maintain said member and arm substantially horizontally.

EMIL KERN. 

